Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1887-03-03
ROMANCE CT THE MINES.



This is indeed n peculiar world"
said mining expert at the Planters
house yesterday. Here | pick up the
papers and read of Mrs. Mackay's do
ings in Paris-how she receives the
scions of royalty, how she entertains,
how she appears ut the opera, how
she dresses and how she does a thous-
and other things, and then | can
scarcely conceive that eighteen years
ago she kept boarding house in Vir-
ginia City, and that was one of her
boarslers. Yet it is true and often
ponder over it. She was young
widow then with an interesting child
who has since matured into young
lady, and was recently married to an
Italian prince of some kind. That
little girl has often sat on my knee
with n little tin can in her hand which
contained the contributions of her adj
mirers. In those days we lived prin-
cipally on canned food, and Mrs.
Mackay's backyard was paved with
tin cans. The child had selected
very pretty can which one OF the
5oar'lers had transformed into little
bank. This was partly filed with
coin, the result Of tribute which she
levied on her friends. She would
climb on the boar,lers' knees, and
shaking her little bank would say: is
you lucky today This query had
the desired effect, and the bank re-
ceipis were increased. Even in her
days of distress Mrs. Mackay was n
good woman. She personally super
intended affairs and made her board
ers as comfortabieas possible. was
then II superintendent under Fair,
and Mackay was already u million
aire. Mining stock was the rage then
and remember often how she would
come to me and some OF the other
boar,lers and ask our advice about
certain stocks, and am happy to say
that the advice gave her was good.
and ii ! Ind taken it myself would
now Ice S5,OOO,eOO or $1,000, 900
bette oily than am.
Then Mackay took u shine to the
widow, and being reputed one OF the
wealthlcst men in the camp he found
smooth sailing. lie couldn't win on
his shape nor his beauty, for every
body who has seen Mackay knows
that he would not take IA prize in IL
congress of beauty. They were mar
ried, and the little girl no longer sat
on miners knees, and mamma = deli
cate hands no longer placed cornbeef
and cabbage on miners plntes. They
rose faster than sheridan stock did
last sumUer, the only difference was
the rise was backed by hard coin.
The great comstock lode continued
to pour forth its richness and Mackay
and his partner became immensely
wealthy. Although reared in poor
circumstances, Mrs. Mackay showed
her good sense IN securing u private
tutor, by whom she was drilled and
educated for five years. The little
daughter was put through the same
course and fitted to shine in the most
cultured society of the old world.
Then came the conquest IN New York,
san Francisco, and finally the trips
to Europe. \ year ago ! was in Paris
aud one evening attended n perform
ance ~ the Grand Opera house. IL
was a first night, and prominent in II
private box were two ladies bcdeche1
with diamonds and fcsiooncd with
flowers. They were the cyno~urc of
all eyes and, dwelling my glasses, | dis
covered behind the SILKS, flowers and
the face ol nay former lnud-
lady in Virginia City. The outlines
were the same but lime had wrought
It's changes. The young lady with her
was the Iii lc girl who used to play on
my knee. As | stood lookin. at them
midst he flashing lishts, the incense
of flowers, and the delicious Music,
could not help recalling something of
"Sonnepne Who brra -teti hi-h water
Swan the north Forh and all that.
just To dance with old Follansbcc's
daughter,
The lily of Poverty Flat"